Coral Gables Calling On Carnival To Reconsider Cuban-Born Policy

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CORAL GABLES (CBSMiami) – Coral Gables commissioners are calling on Carnival to reconsider their voyage to Cuba amid a controversial policy.

On Thursday, city commissioners passed a resolution disapproving of Carnival's route to the island nation over a policy adopted by the company that would not allow people born in Cuba to travel to the island on one of the company's cruise ships.

The resolution – approved unanimously by the commission- also urges Miami Dade County, the state of Florida and the United States Government to "review denying" Carnival Corporation's access and use of the Port of Miami for any cruises where national origin discrimination occurs.

The resolution comes a day after Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez spoke out over the company's policy calling it discriminatory against him and others.

"It discriminates against me. Every member of my family except my wife and I – my kids, my grandkids – can all get on that cruise ship, but my wife and I can't simply because we were born in Cuba,"  said Mayor Gimenez.

The mayor issued a memo to County Attorney Abigail Price-Williams saying he believed the policy violates human rights. He asked the county attorney if they agreed and if so what the next step would be.

Gimenez said possible "remedies" could include casting off Carnival - the largest cruise line operating from PortMiami.

"They are a big partner, and there are a lot of jobs in Miami-Dade County, and my hope would be that they would cease and desist," Gimenez said.

Carnival Corporation said they are trying to talk to the Cuban government to change their policy on not accepting Cuban-born people who are no longer citizens of the country by cruise which is what prompted the company's policy.

Gimenez said he had a frank conversation with Carnival Cruise Chairman Mickey Arison on Wednesday.

"He's trying to do the best he can to change the minds of the Cuban government, and I think he's very sincere about it," Gimenez said of his conversation with Arison.

A class action lawsuit has also been filed against the company taking issue with Carnival Corporation's  and their subsidiary Fathom's compliance with the Cuban government's law.

Carnival is the first cruise company with permission to sail from the U.S. to Cuba, with trips beginning on May 1st.

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